CarL1 Lynchburg Hillcats

Lynchburg Takes Two From Salem

Published on May 10, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release


The Hillcats won the first two games of a three-game weekend series against Salem at Salem Memorial Ballpark on Saturday night. Lynchburg overwhelmed the Red Sox with the combination of a relentless offense and quality pitching.

Lynchburg set the tone for the first two games with a five-run first inning in game one. Pedro Alvarez belted a three-run opposite field home run that sailed over the left-field wall to give the Hillcats a 3-0 lead. The Hillcats added two more runs on three hits following Alvarez' sixth home run of the season.

Salem rebounded with five runs in the bottom of the frame. The Red Sox chased Lynchburg starter Justin Wilson from the contest after just two-thirds of an inning by scoring three runs on three hits and one error. Reliever Mike Colla allowed two inherited runners to score before retiring Jon Hee to end the frame.

Alvarez delivered an RBI single in the second to break the tie and give Lynchburg a 6-5 advantage. Maiko Loyola extended the Hillcats lead to 8-5 with a two-run home run off Salem starter Jose Capellan in the top of the third. The contest was suspended on Friday night due to rain with Lynchburg holding an 8-5 lead in the top of the fourth inning.

When play resumed on Saturday afternoon, the Hillcats hitters continued to pound Salem pitching. Jordy Mercer laced an RBI double to left field in the top of the eighth. Mercer scored on Miles Durham's RBI single to push the lead to 10-5 after eight innings. Loyola hit his second two-run homer of the game in the top of the ninth to complete the scoring and seal Lynchburg's 12-5 victory.

Colla earned the win in relief of Wilson to improve to 2-0. Capellan (2-1) suffered his first loss of the season.

The Hillcats immediately seized control of the second game by scoring a pair of two-out runs in the top of the first off Salem starter Seth Garrison. Alvarez started a string of three consecutive doubles to left field, which put Lynchburg in front 2-0.

Durham blasted a solo home run in the top of the third to start a five-run frame for the Hillcats, which culminated with Mercer's inside-the-park home run that extended the Lynchburg lead to 7-0.

Lynchburg tacked on three more runs in the top of the sixth. The Hillcats offensive outburst was more than enough support for Lynchburg starter Ronald Uviedo (1-1), who limited the Red Sox to 7 hits and 2 runs in 5 innings en route to earning his first victory. Garrison (2-2) took the loss in Lynchburg's 10-2 win.

The Hillcats will seek to complete the three-game sweep of Salem on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 2:05 p.m. You can catch all the live action beginning at 1:40 p.m. with Hillcats On-Deck Show on FM 105.5 KD Country and 96.9 FM in Roanoke.

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Carolina League Stories from May 10, 2009


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